Wire lubricating device

ABSTRACT

A wire lubricating device for lubricating cable to facilitate sliding the cable through conduit. The device is a hollow cylindrical tube section which fits around the wire and holds the lubricant under pressure therein. Apertures juxtaposed to the cable spread the lubricant on the cable as it passes through the device.

0 United States Patent [191 [111 3,783,972 Molstad Jan. 8, 1974 WIRELUBRICATING DEVICE 3,306,581 2/1967 Miller 254/1343 FT n or Da dMolstad, Box 318, Blair, 1,915,443 6/1933 Pelouch 184/28 Wis. 54616FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 Filed: Dec. 1 1971 825,301 12/1959Great Britain 134/15 R [2]] App! 208695 Primary ExaminerManuel A.Antonakas Attorney-Irwin C. Alter et a1. [52] US. Cl. 184/15 R, 118/307[51] Int. Cl. F16rl 3/10 57 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 184/15 105 Awire lubricating device for lubricating cable to facil 18428-,174135;254134.3;11 4 ,4 ,307 8/ 05 ll itate sliding the cablethrough conduit. The devlce IS a [561 3:51i infi iififiiliiifiiffffi,JQZTZSZZZSSEQZZ? UNITED STATES PATENTS Aperturesjuxtaposed to the cable spread the lubricant 2,435,120 1/1948 Baker184/16 on the cable as it passes through the device 3,363,879 I/1968lrik 254/1343 FT 3,459,156 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 8/1969 l-larter184/15 R X lubricating devices that eliminate manual labor, and

automatically apply lubricants under pressure, mechanically to the outersurface of wire or cable.

Another object of my invention is to provide wire lubricating devices ofthe character described, that may be designed to accommodate any type orsize of cable.

Still another object isto provide lubricating devices that storelubricants that may be pressurized either mechanically or by a manuallyactuated pump.

A further object of my invention is to provide lubricating devices thatmay be designed to be adaptable for use with conduit boxes ofconventional design.

It is apparent to anyone, that quite frequently it is inconvenient, andcostly, to apply the lubricant to wire, or cable manually, due to thecost of labor and the amount of time consumed in the operation. Thedevice illustrated, described, and claimed herein, provides a positivemeans of applying the lubricant onto the outer peripheral surface of thecable, as it is pulled through the unit. I

It may be employed for underground cable, or electrical construction ofany conventional type.

It is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, positive in itsperformance, and may be operated without special mechanical skill. I

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent asthe description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings,in which:

FIG. 1, is a vertical perspective, cross-sectional view ofa cylindricallubricating head, constituting my invention;

FIG. 2, is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lubricating head,applied to a portion of conduit, with a fragmentary portion ofconventional cable passing therethrough;

FIG. 3, is a perspective view of a suggested conventional tank oflubricant, equipped with a manually operated pump feeding the lubricantto the head, while applying the lubricant to the cable being pulledthere through; and

FIG. 4, is a perspective view of the device, when applied to aconventional conduit box.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts andfeatures throughout the several views, and referring now to the same,the character shows in general, a cylindrical closed body structure,consisting of an outer wall 11, an inner wall 12, a top plate 13, and abottom plate 14. The outer wall 11 is equipped with a conventionalhydraulic fitting 15, to lead the lubricating material into thecylindrical enclosure 16. The inner wall 12 is equipped with a pluralityof apertures 17, to permit the extrusion of the lubricant to be extrudedunder pressure, whereby the lubricant is spread on the outer peripheralarea of the cable 18 as the cable passes through the inner wall 12 (SeeFIG. 2).

The inner wall 12, is shown threaded at 19, for the engagement of thethreaded conduit 20.

In FIG. 4, I show a conventional conduit box 21, supported by theconduit 20, with a radially disposed member 22 supporting the body 10,which member may be supported by means of a chain, or the like, shown as23 in any convenient manner.

By referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that I show a tank 24containing the lubricant, which tank 24 is equipped with a pump 25,which obviously may be of any conventional design, and constructed to beoperated by a conventional lever assembly, which is generally shown as26. The pump 25 has a tube 27 leading therefrom to the fitting 15 on thebody 10 for conveying the lubricant from the tank 24 to the body 10. Inthis manner, the lubricant will be applied to the cable 18 as it isbeing pulled through the body 10. If desired, an electrically operatedpump (not shown) may be employed, which pump may be controlled by aswitch or lever in any conventional manner.

From the above description, it can be seen that the device is positivein its operation, and although I have shown a specific construction andarrangement of the parts and features constituting my invention, I amfully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made in the partsand features without effecting their operativeness, and I reserve therights to make such changes as I may deem necessary, without departmentfrom the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byletters patent in the United States,

l. A lubricating device comprising:

a tank having a passageway enabling a cable to pass therethrough,

said tank comprising a hollow cylindrical tubular section having innerwalls andouter walls,

said inner walls being contiguous to said cable passing therethrough,

said inner walls being threadably attached to a conduit so that thecables can pass from the device into the conduit,

lubricant supply means for supplying said lubricant to said tank,

a plurality of spaced apart apertures communicating between said tankand said passageway, and

said lubricant supply means including means to apply pressure to saidtank whereby said lubricant is extruded through said apertures andapplied evenly to said cable passing through said passageway.

2. The device of claim 1, and wherein said means for supplyinglubricants under pressure comprises a fitting on said outer wall,

pump means attached to said fitting for supplying the lubricant underpressure to said tank.

1. A lubricating device comprising: a tank having a passageway enablinga cable to pass therethrough, said tank comprising a hollow cylindricaltubular section having inner walls and outer walls, said inner wallsbeing contiguous to said cable passing therethrough, said inner wallsbeing threadably attached to a conduit so that the cables can pass fromthe device into the conduit, lubricant supply means for supplying saidlubricant to said tank, a plurality of spaced apart aperturescommunicating between said tank and said passageway, and said lubricantsupply means including means to apply pressure to said tank whereby saidlubricant is extruded through said apertures and applied evenly to saidcable passing through said passageway.
 2. The device of claim 1, andwherein said means for supplying lubricants under pressure comprises afitting on said outer wall, pump means attached to said fitting forsupplying the lubricant under pressure to said tank.